Push-button snap-switch.



PATENTED' JAN. 14,1908.

lim-876,511.

' J. A. YORK; PUSH- BUTTQN SMPA SWITCH.

APjPLIUATION FILED JULY 2. 1907.

UNITE STTES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. YORK, OF HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT. ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROW ELECTRICCOMPANY. F HARTFORD, CONNECTKUT. A CORPORATIOY OF CONNECTICUT.

`PUSH-BUTTON SNAP-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1908. i

Application filed July Z9` 1907. Serial No. 385.977.

T o allahom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN A. YORK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford,'in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulPush-Button Snap-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric switch of the type having movablecontacts that are oscillated by push buttons for the purpose of beingengaged with and disengaged from stationary contacts to which thecircuit wires Lare connected.

The object ol the invention is to provide a simple construction which issure and positive in action and very cheap to manufacture and assemble.

Figure'l of the accompanying drawings shows a front elevation of theoperating mechanism of a switch that embodies the invention. Fig. 2shows a rear elevation of the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 shows a sideelevation of the same. Fig. a shows a front view ofthe cam plate towhich the push buttons are connected. Fig. 5 shows an edge view of thecam plate. Fig. 6 shows a front-view of the lock plate. Fig 7 shows anedge view of the lock plate. Fig. 8 shows a front view of the supportingframe. Fig. 9 shows an edge .view of the supporting frame. Fig. 10 showsa side view of the locking tumbler.

rThe inclosing'receptacle with the stationary contacts which arenecessarily -secured to lthe base of the receptacle, and the 'face plateare not illustrated for they form no part of the present invention andcan be made of any desired material in any common latter are adapted toengage lugs 7 preferablyv thrown backwardly from the supporting frame.Projecting 'forwardly from the lock plate is an arm 8 and engaging theopposite edges of this arm are the ends of a spring 9 that is coiledupon the hub 10 that projects from. the supporting frame and supportsthe spindle.

Mounted on the supporting hub is a plate 1l. to which the push buttons'l2 are connected by the Shanks 13. This plate has an arm 16 thatprojects forwardly parallel with and adjacent to the arm that projectsfrom the lock plate, and is embraced by the opposite ends of the coiledspring. The edge of the plate to which the push buttons are connected isformed with inclined or cam surfaces 14 and embracing this edge of thecam plate is a forked tumbler 15. This tumbler is shown as made of twopieces of metal that are loosely inserted in a slot in the back and aslot in the base of the supporting frame so that as thel cam plate isoscillated bac-k and forth by pushing in the buttons, the tumbler isfirst held backwardly with a part extending through the su porting'frame in the path of a locking shou der of the lock plate andafterwards withdrawn from in front ofthis locking shoulder so the lockplate can be thrown by the spring.

Nhen a button is pressed inwardly and the cam platej is oscillated thecam plate arm engages one end of the coiled spring and places the springunder tension in a common manner.

During this period the rear edge of the tumbler is held in the path ofthe lock plate. After the spring is under sufficient tension the camplate` withdraws the edge of the oscillating tumbler from in front ofthe locking shoulf der and allows the lock plate to be thrown by thepush of the other end of the spring against the arm that projectsforwardly 'from the lock plate. The lock plate can not move until a pushbutton has been pushed in a sucient distance to withdraw the tumblerfrom the path of the lock plate and the spring is under sufficienttension to throw the lock plate, the spindle and connected movablecontacts, with sui'licient 'force to cause them to engage with or bedisengaged from the stationary contacts in the proper manner to close oropen the circuit. The engagement of the stop shoulders of the lock platewith the stop lugs on the frame stop the parts'in the desired positions.

The .invention claimed is:

1. An electric switch mechanism having movable contacts, a lock plateconnected with and adapted to move the contacts, a cam plate, pushbuttons connected with and .adapted to move the'eam plate, aitumbleradapted to bemoved by the cam plate lin and out through the supportinplate into and outof the path of the lock ate,-and a spiral s ringadapted to be place under tension by t 1e 'movement of the lpush buttonsand to throw the look plate and movable poles after the tumbler has beenwithdrawn from the substantially as specified. 4

2. An electric switch having movable contacte, a l'ock plate connectedwith and con- 'lock plate by the movement of the cam plate,

4trolling the movement of the contacts, push buttons, a cam plateconnected with the push buttons, a tumbler moved substan-v tiallyparallel With the axis 'of the movable contacts by the movement of thecam plate,

and a spring for throwing the lock plate placed under tension by themovement of the cam plate, substantially as specified.

' 3. An electric switch havl movable coml tacts, a' lock platecontrollmg the movement of the contacts, push buttons, a cam plate movedby the movement of the push buttonsfa tumbler moved by the movement ofthe .cam plate transversely of the .plane of the'movement of the lockplate, anda spring for throwing the lock plate made tense -by themovement of the cam plate, substantially as specified.

4 JOHN A. YORK. v.Witnesses:

HARRY R. WILLIAMS, LENA C. BERRY.

